Smelter



y 1, 1945- K. STORRS 2,374,713

SHELTER Filed July 22, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor May 1, 1945. STQRRS 2,374,713

SHELTER 4 Filed July 22, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented May 1, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SMELTER Kindred L. Storrs, Salt Lake City, Utah Application July 22, 1942, Serial No. 451,975 2 Claims. (Cl. 266-24) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in smelters and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of this character comprising a unique construction and arrangement whereby a continuous, drying and treatment of the ore will be had. I

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a smelter Of the character described comprising novel means for separating and retaining the precious metals from the treated oreas its passes continuously through the machine.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a smelter of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

' Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal sec-.

tion through the upper portion of the device, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the apparatus which has been illustrated comprises a suitable elevated supporting structure I. Mounted for vibration on the supporting structure I through the medium of a plurality of springs 2 is a closed retort 3. An electric motor 4 is mounted on the supporting structure I and operatively connected to the retort 3 for vibrating the same by means including a pitman 5.

In the embodiment shown, and as illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings, the bottom 6 of the retort 3 comprises spaced upper and lower plates I and 8, respectively, between which an electric heating element 9 is'mounted. Adjacent the discharge end of the retort 3, the upper plate 1 is depressed in a manner to form a pan H) for the reception of molten lead or other suitable metals or combinations of metals.

Mounted on the intake end portion of the retort 3 and communicating therewith is a hopper brought to a molten state.

H for the reception of the crushed and sized ore. The hopper ll includes a discharge spout l2 which extends downwardly into the retort 3. Communicating with the retort 3 at its discharge end and depending therefrom is a tailings discharge tube or spout l3. The construction and arrangement is such that a car l4, operable on a track l5, may be moved beneath the discharge tube l3 for receiving the tailings therefrom. The ore packs in the hopper II and the tailings pack in the discharge tube l3 in a manner to prevent air from entering the retort 3 at these points.

A tank for the reception of water is indicated at I6, said tank being closed. A conduit IT, including a flexible portion, connects the retort 3 to the tank It. A'suitable vacuum pump I8 is connected to the tank It above the level of the water therein.

It is thought that the operation of the unit will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the electric element 9 is energized for heating the plate 1 to the required temperature. In this manner the lead or other metal in the pan I0 is also heated and With the retort 3 vibrating, the ore feeds by gravity thereinto from the hopper I l and moves toward the discharge end of said retort. As the treated ore passes over the pan 10 the comparatively heavy precious metals in said ore gravitate into the molten lead in said pan by which they are retained, the tailings passing on and dropping into the discharge tube l3. The vacuum pump l8 removes the fumes from the retort 3, said fumes being caused to pass through the water in the tank It.

It is believed that the many advantages of a smelter constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to beu'nderstood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a smelter, the combination of a horizontal elevated stationary supporting structure, an elongated flat retort having a top ore inlet at one end and a bottom tailings outlet at the other end, said retort having a bottom comprising spaced upper and lower plates, an electric heating element disposed between said plates and extending substantially from end to end of the retort, the end portion of the upper plate ading element disposed between said Plates and extending substantially from end to end or the retort, the end portion of the upper plate adjacent the tailings outlet being depressed to form a pan for reception of molten metal, means supporting the retort in a substantially horizontal position upon and above the supporting structure for iongitudinal vibration, and means for vibrating the retort, a feed hopper supported by the retort and dischar i g into said ore inlet, a discharge spout carried b and depending from the retort and communicating with said tallings outlet, and a fume outlet pipe communicating with the retort through the top of the latter at a point directly above said pan.

KINDRED L. STORES. 

